Burkina Faso faces un scrutiny over alleged abuses against Fulani community
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has raised serious concerns about widespread human rights violations targeting the Fulani ethnic group in Burkina Faso. Reports indicate a surge in extrajudicial killings, torture, arbitrary detentions, abductions, and enforced disappearances during military and security operations against jihadist groups in the Sahel region, painting a grim picture of repression and targeted violence.
Systemic abuses and ethnic profiling
According to independent UN investigators, these abuses are frequently carried out by national armed forces, internal security units, and their auxiliaries—including the Volontaires pour la défense de la Patrie—as well as by non-state armed groups. The Committee highlighted allegations of systemic ethnic profiling against Fulani individuals by defense forces, security personnel, and members of the Brigade civique pour l’ordre et la discipline (known as Brigade Laabal).
Experts warn that these grave human rights violations are often justified by the alleged association of Fulani communities with terrorist organizations, fueling a dangerous cycle of discrimination and violence.
Hate speech and incitement to violence
The UN committee also expressed alarm over the rise of hate speech and discriminatory rhetoric, particularly on social media, where calls for violence and criminal acts—including murder—against Fulani individuals have been documented. Such rhetoric not only stokes ethnic tensions but also contributes to racially motivated attacks and hate crimes, underscoring the urgent need for government intervention.
The Committee urgently called on Burkina Faso to launch independent, impartial, and thorough investigations into all allegations involving state security forces and their affiliates. It stressed the importance of holding perpetrators accountable through fair prosecutions and appropriate sanctions.
Legal reforms and preventive measures
Beyond accountability, the UN body emphasized the necessity of legal and preventive actions to combat ethnic and racial discrimination. It urged Burkina Faso to explicitly criminalize racial and ethnic profiling in its national legislation, aligning with international human rights standards. Additionally, the Committee recommended the implementation of binding operational guidelines for police and security forces to prevent profiling during identity checks, law enforcement operations, and military security missions.
Government rejects allegations
Burkina Faso has pushed back against the UN’s findings, asserting that its security operations strictly adhere to national and international human rights laws and do not target any specific community. Sabine Bakyono Kanzie, Permanent Representative of Burkina Faso to the UN Office in Geneva, stated that counter-terrorism efforts are conducted without discrimination, in full compliance with human rights obligations.
The government also denied claims of ethnic profiling, arguing that such allegations do not reflect reality. It pointed to existing complaint mechanisms, community policing initiatives, and training programs for defense and security forces designed to prevent stigmatization. Burkina Faso further highlighted its commitment to diversity, noting the representation of various ethnic groups—including the Fulani—at all levels of the state and security apparatus.
